Is Yogurt Good for You?

Fresh, healthy yogurt has been prepared in houses for centuries. Yogurt is prepared by curdling pasteurized milk with purified bacteria like the Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, which turn the lactose in the milk to lactic acid. The bacteria is added to the pasteurized milk, then warmed in an incubator till yogurt that is thick and tart is formed. Yogurt is available in supermarkets and health-food stores. In fact today, we don't just have to choose between light or regular yogurt of fruit based yogurt, but also have choices regarding the good bacteria used for culturing. The live bacterial cultures that transform milk to yogurt help the body in several ways.

Yogurt Health Benefits

The benefits of yogurt consumption are as follows:

Increases Life Span

The live bacteria in the yogurt which turn milk into yogurt can help us live longer lives. Consuming yogurt on a regular basis helps improve the body's immunity. The bacterial cultures in the yogurt stimulate action of white blood cells in the blood, which will fight off any infection and prevent occurrence of immune-related diseases.

Easier Digestion

People who are lactose intolerant or have a protein allergy cannot tolerate milk, however, when the milk is cultured to form yogurt, it can be digested more easily than milk. Lactose intolerant people lack the enzyme lactose, however, live active cultures in the yogurt help improve lactose absorption in such people. It has often been observed that children who cannot tolerate milk can digest yogurt without having a stomach upset.

Stimulates Bone Growth

Milk is not the only dairy product to be credited with the title of good calcium source. Yogurt contains lactoferrin, an iron binding protein which boosts the activity of cells called osteoblasts, which build the bone. Besides increasing the number of osteoblasts, the lactoferrin also reduces the number of osteoclasts, which are responsible for breaking down the bone cells. Thus, consuming yogurt regularly helps reverse the process of osteoporosis.

Heals Intestinal Infections

People with intestinal infection find it easier to tolerate yogurt than milk because yogurt contains less lactose and more lactase. People suffering from allergic or viral infections of the intestine have the lining of the intestine injured. Cells producing lactase are destroyed, thereby resulting in lactose malabsorption issues. However, yogurt eliminates all these issues and can be consumed safely. Moreover, yogurt when taken by children suffering from diarrhea is seen to conduce to speedy recovery.

Good Protein Source

Yogurt is made from milk, so it definitely is a good source of protein. Yogurt is stated to have as much protein as an egg or an ounce of meat. Proteins form building blocks of the body and replace worn and damaged cells of the muscle that cover the skeleton within us.

Reduces Bad Breath

Hydrogen sulfide and other such volatile sulfide compounds are responsible for causing bad breath. Consuming a bowl of sugar-free yogurt everyday will lower the bad breath triggering sulfide compounds and will also get rid of the tongue coating bacteria. They also reduce dental plaque formations, tooth cavities and lower the risk of getting gingivitis. Who thought yogurt had such oral cavity benefits! So eating yogurt can definitely help reduce the number of visits to the dentist!

Yogurt makes great snacks and can be served to cool the stomach after a spicy meal. It is even used in cooking; for marination or to enhance the flavor of the meal. Some love to have it in the frozen form, however, despite the form you consume yogurt in, it is overall healthy. Now that you know how yogurt is good for you, you can appreciate what you're eating!